公开(公告)号：US20200185413A1

公开(公告)日：2020-06-11

申请号：US16793560

申请日：2020-02-18

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Woohee Kim ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Changhan Kim

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/10 ,  H01L29/423 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L27/1157

Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. The wordline levels include conductive wordline material having terminal ends. Charge blocking material is along the terminal ends of the conductive wordline material and has first vertical faces. The insulative levels have terminal ends with second vertical faces. The second vertical faces are laterally offset relative to the first vertical faces. Charge-trapping material is along the first vertical faces, and extends partially along the second vertical faces. The charge-trapping material is configured as segments which are vertically spaced from one another by gaps. Charge-tunneling material extends along the segments of the charge-trapping material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack, and is spaced from the charge-trapping material by the charge-tunneling material. The channel material extends into the gaps. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.

公开(公告)号：US10672785B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-02

申请号：US14679926

申请日：2015-04-06

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege ,  Meng-Wei Kuo ,  John D. Hopkins

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L21/3213 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/1157

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming vertically-stacked memory cells. An opening is formed through a stack of alternating insulative and conductive levels. Cavities are formed to extend into the conductive levels. Regions of the insulative levels remain as ledges which separate adjacent cavities from one another. Material is removed from the ledges to thin the ledges, and then charge-blocking dielectric and charge-storage structures are formed within the cavities. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. Cavities extend into the conductive levels. Ledges of the insulative levels separate adjacent cavities from one another. The ledges are thinned relative to regions of the insulative levels not encompassed by the ledges. Charge-blocking dielectric and charge-storage structures are within the cavities.

公开(公告)号：US20200152658A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-14

申请号：US16738499

申请日：2020-01-09

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John M. Meldrim ,  Yushi Hu ,  Rita J. Klein ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Hongbin Zhu ,  Gordon A. Haller ,  Luan C. Tran

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/49

Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a stack of alternating first and second levels. Channel material pillars extend through the stack, and vertically-stacked memory cell strings are along the channel material pillars. A common source is under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars. The common source has conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide, with the conductive protective material being a composition other than metal silicide. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating integrated structures.

公开(公告)号：US10593766B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-17

申请号：US16052159

申请日：2018-08-01

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John D. Hopkins

IPC: H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L29/788 ,  H01L29/792 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11582

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor structure comprise forming an opening through a stack of alternating tier dielectric materials and tier control gate materials, and laterally removing a portion of each of the tier control gate materials to form control gate recesses. A charge blocking material comprising a charge trapping portion is formed on exposed surfaces of the tier dielectric materials and tier control gate materials in the opening. The control gate recesses are filled with a charge storage material. The method further comprises removing the charge trapping portion of the charge blocking material disposed horizontally between the charge storage material and an adjacent tier dielectric material to produce air gaps between the charge storage material and the adjacent tier dielectric material. The air gaps may be substantially filled with dielectric material or conductive material. Also disclosed are semiconductor structures obtained from such methods.

公开(公告)号：US20200083059A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16128109

申请日：2018-09-11

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John D. Hopkins ,  Gordon A. Haller ,  Tom J. John ,  Anish A. Khandekar ,  Christopher Larsen ,  Kunal Shrotri

IPC: H01L21/311 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/02

Abstract: A method used in forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The stack comprises an etch-stop tier between a first tier and a second tier of the stack. The etch-stop tier is of different composition from those of the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. Etching is conducted into the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are above the etch-stop tier to the etch-stop tier to form channel openings that have individual bases comprising the etch-stop tier. The etch-stop tier is penetrated through to extend individual of the channel openings there-through. After extending the individual channel openings through the etch-stop tier, etching is conducted into and through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are below the etch-stop tier to extend the individual channel openings deeper into the stack below the etch-stop tier. Transistor channel material is formed in the individual channel openings elevationally along the etch-stop tier and along the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are above and below the etch-stop tier. Arrays independent of method are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US10553611B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-04

申请号：US16413498

申请日：2019-05-15

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John M. Meldrim ,  Yushi Hu ,  Rita J. Klein ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Hongbin Zhu ,  Gordon A. Haller ,  Luan C. Tran

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/49

Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a stack of alternating first and second levels. Channel material pillars extend through the stack, and vertically-stacked memory cell strings are along the channel material pillars. A common source is under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars. The common source has conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide, with the conductive protective material being a composition other than metal silicide. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating integrated structures.

公开(公告)号：US10453858B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-22

申请号：US15997992

申请日：2018-06-05

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John D. Hopkins ,  David Daycock

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L29/792 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L29/423 ,  H01L21/28

Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. The conductive levels include primary regions of a first vertical thickness, and terminal projections of a second vertical thickness which is greater than the first vertical thickness. Charge-blocking material is adjacent the terminal projections. Charge-storage material is adjacent the charge-blocking material. Gate-dielectric material is adjacent the charge-storage material. Channel material is adjacent the gate-dielectric material. Some embodiments include NAND memory arrays. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated structures.

公开(公告)号：US20190312056A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-10

申请号：US16435280

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Fei Wang ,  Tom J. John ,  Kunal Shrotri ,  Anish A. Khandekar ,  Aaron R. Wilson ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Derek F. Lundberg

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/033 ,  H01L29/788 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/311

Abstract: A method comprises forming material to be etched over a substrate. An etch mask comprising a silicon nitride-comprising region is formed elevationally over the material. The etch mask comprises an elevationally-extending mask opening in the silicon nitride-comprising region that has a minimum horizontal open dimension that is greater in an elevationally-innermost portion of the region than in an elevationally-outermost portion of the region. The elevationally-outermost portion has a greater etch rate in at least one of HF and H3PO4 than does the elevationally-innermost portion. The etch mask is used as a mask while etching an elevationally-extending mask opening into the material. The silicon nitride-comprising region is exposed to at least one of HF and H3PO4 to increase the minimum horizontal open dimension in the elevationally-outermost portion to a greater degree than increase, if any, in the minimum horizontal open dimension in the elevationally-innermost portion. Other aspects and embodiments, including structure independent of method of manufacture, are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20190273161A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-05

申请号：US16417507

申请日：2019-05-20

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： John D. Hopkins

IPC: H01L29/788 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/51 ,  H01L29/423 ,  H01L29/792 ,  H01L29/66 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming vertical memory strings. A trench is formed to extend through a stack of alternating electrically conductive levels and electrically insulative levels. An electrically insulative panel is formed within the trench. Some sections of the panel are removed to form openings. Each opening has a first pair of opposing sides along the stack, and has a second pair of opposing sides along remaining sections of the panel. Cavities are formed to extend into the electrically conductive levels along the first pair of opposing sides of the openings. Charge blocking material and charge-storage material is formed within the cavities. Channel material is formed within the openings and is spaced from the charge-storage material by gate dielectric material. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions, and some embodiments include methods of forming vertically-stacked structures.

公开(公告)号：US20190198516A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-27

申请号：US16291453

申请日：2019-03-04

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Luan C. Tran ,  Hongbin Zhu ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Yushi Hu

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/8234 ,  H01L29/78 ,  H01L21/8238

CPC classification number: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/823412 ,  H01L21/823487 ,  H01L21/823885 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L29/7827

Abstract: The present disclosure includes memory having a continuous channel, and methods of processing the same. A number of embodiments include forming a vertical stack having memory cells connected in series between a source select gate and a drain select gate, wherein forming the vertical stack includes forming a continuous channel for the source select gate, the memory cells, and the drain select gate, and removing a portion of the continuous channel for the drain select gate such that the continuous channel is thinner for the drain select gate than for the memory cells and the source select gate.